CCFRIENDS
THE COUNTRY CLUB OF FLORIDA SPRING 2025
SPEAKER SERIES: VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE
Bill Aliber President
Chip Wilson Vice President
Meredith
Sadler Vice President
Alex Darragh
Treasurer
Chris Wheeler
Secretary
Cindy Crocker
Susan Duane
Joe Laughlin
Greg Maltifano
John Noesen
Bob Rex
Marc Tremblay
Alyson Walker
Dear fellow Members,
As another wonderful season at CCF comes to a close, I would be remiss if I did not thank Jay Allen for his dedicated leadership over the past two years. Jay did a wonderful job guiding CCF and I hope to follow the example he has set as we move forward together.
One of the important milestones this year is the upcoming construction of our new Golf Maintenance Facility. Work is scheduled to begin at the end of May, marking the start of this significant investment in the future of our golf course operations. We are excited to bring this project to life, providing Jeff Klontz and his team with a new facility and enhanced resources needed to continue to maintain our course at the highest level. We will share a progress update with the membership later this summer, and a detailed report will be provided at the State of the Club meeting in November.
New Committees have been established, and important work is already being done. Completion of the 2025/2026 budget is a top priority. In addition to the budget, we will leverage the results from the Club Benchmarking work to help define an actionable road map about where our capital dollars will be spent. We have begun a discussion with a subset of current and past Governors about a CCF Strategic Plan – extending our lens for CCF beyond a one-year budget. There are several projects related to the Clubhouse that are underway, and work will be done during the summer. These updates are designed to enhance the overall member’s experience at the Club. The Admission Committee will continue their vital work to ensure a strong pipeline of extremely high quality and qualified potential members.
At this point you should have received the Membership Survey. This survey is extremely important, and I encourage all members to take the time to complete it. The information we gather will play a key role as we set our 2025–2026 budget, plan programming for next year and beyond, and provide valuable feedback to both the Board of Governors and to John Collier. Your participation ensures that members remain at the center of the decision-making process.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our current Board of Governors for their leadership, hard work, and dedication throughout the year. I would also like to specifically thank our outgoing Governors, Neill Taylor and Allen Prichard, for their dedicated and thoughtful service to the Board and the Membership. Their leadership and contributions have been greatly appreciated. At the same time, we are excited to welcome our new Governors—Alex Darragh, Bob Rex, and Greg Malfitano—whose experience and enthusiasm will be a tremendous asset as we move forward.
Finally, I want to extend my deepest appreciation to our extraordinary staff. Their passion, professionalism, and tireless efforts make every day at CCF exceptional. A special thank you to our General Manager, John Collier, whose leadership continues to elevate every aspect of our operations and culture. We are truly fortunate to have such a dedicated team guiding us forward.
Thank you once again for a wonderful season. I wish everyone a great summer Warm Regards,
Bill Aliber President, CCF Board of Governors
Dear Members,
As our season comes to a close, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the fantastic year we’ve enjoyed at the Club.
First and foremost, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Jay Allen for his outstanding leadership over the past two years. His unwavering dedication, thoughtful guidance, and steady vision have been instrumental in strengthening our Club and ensuring its continued success. Jay’s tireless efforts, commitment to excellence, and genuine care for our Members have left a lasting and meaningful impact. We are truly grateful for all he has done and look forward to building on the strong foundation he and past Presidents have helped create.
I would also like to thank our outgoing Governors, Neill Taylor and Allen Prichard, for their countless hours of work, and steadfast commitment to the Club and its membership. Your leadership has played a vital role in making this season such a success.
Additionally, I want to recognize our outstanding staff for the incredible work they have done throughout the year. Their hard work and persistence to achieve excellence continues to elevate the Member experience in every way.
A special acknowledgment must also go to a group who, although not directly employed by the Club, are invaluable to our daily operations. Our valet team—Bruno, Andrew, Kevin, and Enzo—are often the first friendly faces you see upon arriving. They consistently provide first-class service and hospitality, and we are grateful for the important role they play in welcoming our Members and guests.
As we transition into the summer months, I wish you all a wonderful, relaxing, and safe summer season. While the pace at the Club may slow, our work behind the scenes will remain busy. Our team will spend the summer months preparing for another exceptional season, completing maintenance projects, refining operations, and planning enhancements to continue providing the outstanding experience you expect. We look forward to welcoming you back to an even better Club this fall.
As always, I am here for you. To communicate directly and avoid “telephone tag” when you have a comment or concern, please feel free to email me at: jcollier@ccfgolf.com
Warm regards,
John Collier General Manager
Audubon International Re-Certification Update
Audubon International has requested that we complete a re-certification program after three years. The Audubon program is extremely valuable to golf courses throughout Florida and around the world. We have been members since 1992, and with the help of Dr. Robert Raborn, we became Certified in 1998. Many golf courses, including ours, have seen an increase in bird species. Out of a list of 100 different birds, we have identified over 87. Linda McCandless, our local Palm Beach County Eagle Watch coordinator and an ornithologist, has been incredibly helpful—along with Jean Laragh—in identifying the species.
Our Purple Martins have returned, helping keep us free from mosquitoes and other pesky bugs. Personally, I don’t recall being bitten on or around the golf course. Jim Good has volunteered to keep the martin houses clean, treated for mites, and ready for nesting. It’s the behind-the-scenes efforts like these that keep the Audubon program thriving.
As a footnote: ornithologists identify birds not only by sight but also by their calls and flight patterns.
Water Conservation and Management
Water management is another major part of the program, especially during drought conditions. It’s okay for the course to be dry—your golf ball travels farther, and you might even lower your scores! Since we use recycled water, we’re very conservative with usage and always monitor costs. Thanks to Doug Kannapell’s continued support, we’ve kept our costs with the City of Boynton Beach reasonable.
We’ve been using recycled water since 1989 and were one of only five courses in the area to begin that effort. This not only conserves water but also helps prevent the treatment plant from discharging it into the ocean. We’re talking about millions of gallons generated from homes and municipal buildings just in Delray and Boynton Beach.
It’s amazing how the grass and plants perk up to a brilliant green after rainfall. In agronomy, we’re taught that roots will seek out water, but over-watering causes roots to stay near the
surface—leading to shallow systems, which invite problems like fungus, insects, and animals digging up the turf.
Many homes have sensors that shut off irrigation when rain is detected. I can assure you that Jeffrey and I discuss the course’s watering needs every day. He also uses a soil moisture monitor to check levels on the greens daily. Though timers and software make watering easier, we must still adjust our practices based on soil type, grass variety, shade, and sunlight.
Wildlife Habitat and Native Landscaping
Audubon International also encourages natural areas with native plants that provide food sources for local wildlife. Plants such as Wild Coffee, Mulberry, Brazilian Pepper, Firebush, Dahoon Holly, and American Beautyberry all offer nectar for bees and food for birds. Many of these are found in the wildlife corridor in the interior of our course.
You may have noticed an increase in rabbits, too. These natural areas provide ideal spots for them to hide, mate, and raise their young. On the island at Hole 10, we have plenty of Black Willow trees, which are great nectar sources for our bees.
Interestingly, the honey produced by our bees can help with allergy symptoms for some people. However, production slows in December, January, and February. Heavy rainfall can also reduce honey yield by washing nectar off the plants. Still, we manage to produce 100–150 gallons of honey annually.
Pond and Waterway Health
Our ponds benefit from the use of a biological product called BioZyme, which prevents algae by feeding on nitrogen. The ponds are home to fish like bass, bluegill, catfish, and gambusia—a small minnow-like fish that eats mosquito larvae. Most of our lakes have oxygen diffusers that maintain fish life, especially when oxygen levels drop due to storms or cooler temperatures. We restock the lakes each spring to support the aquatic ecosystem.
Final Thoughts
Audubon International has been a wonderful program, educating me and influencing many of the environmental practices we now have in place. Whether we’re playing golf, enjoying the beauty, or listening to the sounds of nature, the environment we live in is important to us all. Birds, fragrant flowers, vibrant greens, and clear, algae-free water are gifts we shouldn’t take for granted.
The Audubon program helps us maintain the natural beauty of our golf course and surrounding areas.
Let’s not forget about Gopher Tortoise Park near Hole 3 and Jean Laragh’s residence. Jean recently shared news of a new addition to the Gopher Tortoise family! This sandy, native acre represents what CCF looked like when it was founded in the 1950s, full of native plants that have withstood decades of climate changes.
See you next season, Jeff Klontz
THE FINAL SEASON’S “PEEK AT THE PAST”
Our own 2025’s Kentucky Derby & The Preakness
It’s hard for me to believe that our annual “Floridian Horse Race” just celebrated its 30th Anniversary this Spring. The track was still warm three days later when the “Kids” ran in their 16th Annual “Pony Race.” Articles have previously been logged regarding these two entertaining events, but the influx of so many new members has made it time to tell the story of how both races made their way onto our hallowed grounds.
The “Big Boys” first ran in 1995. The event only took a mere 20 years to garner a spot on the annual Club Calendar. The details of the race were presented to the Board in late 1975. Carol Scott and I had taken part in a few races in the Chicago area, loved the hilarity of them, and tried our best to get a race approved. We consistently met the wall. There was concern that gambling would be involved with liquor carts following the parade, and that cheers & booing would occur, thus endangering the reputation of The Country Club of Florida. Eventually, Board members Gerry Donnelly, Al Seckel and Stu Pfaff experienced a race up North, had an absolute blast, and finally got the Board to approve.
The inaugural race was a huge success, with 295 spectators witnessing the event. Every cart in the barn followed the 3-hour parade. Hap Fuller, aka “Gift Wrap, ” a smooth 12 handicapper, somehow made a 9 on the 5th hole and amazingly survived a chip off to stay in the race. He immediately headed for the booze cart, downed a quick double “See Through,” energized himself after a few shanks, and by some miracle held on to win the inaugural! “Gift Wrap” got his name on the Board. A miracle! His actual
score was 47, but it never got listed! Hopefully, the Floridian Horse Race will always have a place on our annual Golf Event calendar. It’s truly a gem!
The Pony Race began in 2009. It was brought to the Club by Board Members Gerry Donnelly and Gary Dering. The event was created as a thank you to our golf shop staff, and the Club’s newly revamped Caddie Program. It was built on the same framework as the Horse Race and was played on the front nine. We didn’t know how many caddies would participate, so the elimination schedule had to be altered. This year’s race had 26 ponies… thus 10 had to be eliminated on the 1st hole due to their high scores.
The real kicker for the kids was that they each were awarded the services of a CCF Member toting the sack for their “rookie,” free of charge! We immediately hired Ed James, past Club & Western Golf Association President, and named him “LOU, ” the Caddie Master from the hilarious movie Caddyshack. We asked him to recruit some of the Club’s finest! Ed’s 1st move was to secure free caddie bibs from the WGA. Way to go Ed! Unfortunately, however, he struggled to find stalwart gentlemen that would tote the little pony’s steamer trunks! Lou brought in the scruffiest lot of misfits the Club had ever seen! They were not on time, destroyed the Club’s Dress Code, couldn’t keep up or see where the ball was going, and were unable to rake any bunkers! Not one thing has changed in 16 years of galloping down the fairways. Especially the absolute respect, support and joy the Ponies have realized from our exceptional membership. Kudos Gary & Gerry for your insight. You too, “Lou,” for the free bibs!
John Fleming, Club Historian
CCF GOLF 2025 : Memorable Achievements
CINDY
CROCKER:
TWO HOLE IN ONES IN ONE ROUND
We were able to celebrate an INCREDIBLY rare event during our Mixed Fourball on May 27th, when Cindy Crocker made a hole in one on #17, then made a second (yes, SECOND) hole in one in the same round of golf on #8! The odds of making a hole in one during a round of golf are 1 in 12,500, while the odds of making 2 in the same round are 1 in 67,000,000. Simply amazing...congratulations Cindy!!
JON GOLLINGER: TWO HOLE-OUT EAGLES IN 1 ROUND
Congratulations, as well, to Jon Gollinger. This past May, Jon made 2 hole-out eagles in the same round. On hole number 1, he hit driver and 9-iron into the hole, then on hole number 7 he hit driver and 8-iron into the hole.
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A SINCERE THANK YOU FROM THE STAFF
We, your staff, would like to extend a warm thank you to you. The Country Club of Florida is a very special club, one of the few in these modern times that upholds the values and traditions of the past. Not just those of this club, but really, the core values that all clubs originally stood for, dating back to the 1800's. Etiquette, respect and consideration for Members and staff is what makes it so easy for us to come back every season. We feel valued, and we want you to know, that we value you, and feel privileged to serve and maintain the CCF culture and tradition.
CCFRIENDS SPRING 2025
THE COUNTRY CLUB OF FLORIDA
22 COUNTRY ROAD, VILLAGE OF GOLF, FL 33436
COVER PHOTO: GIEDRE PHOTOGRAPHY